I need to numb my blood 'til I'm okay The titan strolled through the orchard with little regard for the possibility of discovery. He was in search of herbs, the return to these familiar lands had meant that he'd been forced to abandon his stocks elsewhere. Immense form shouldered through brambles and thickets, kicking aside rotting fruit as he searched. Dappled early morning sunlight slid over his celestial pelt, setting each hue glittering in turn as he moved. A yawn split his maw wide, thick tusks bared to the open air for a a scant few moments as the groggy giant ambled along. It didn't take long for him to locate something of potential use. A clump of meadowsweet, with a few stems in the end stages of flowering. He could very well dig it up and attempt to transplant it in a more controlled locale, like a den site. The only problem there, was that he didn't have a den site. Thus far the cosmic goliath was more than content living a nomadic lifestyle until he found something to entertain him for a while, or a pack he might settle in. Not that such a feat would be likely accomplished at this point, he was getting too comfortable as a loner. Beholden to none, and free to roam as he pleased, committing petty crimes, seducing strangers, and then leaving before the consequences could catch up. A soft snort of frustration was directed at the meadowsweet, before he moved on. Perhaps he'd collect fermenting fruit instead and get drunk before noon. That sounded like an equally enjoyable option. A scent drifting on the breeze caught his attention- another wolf. It had been a while since he'd seen someone else, and longer still since he'd spoken to someone else. Was he really in the mood to engage in conversation this early in the day? Tall auds swivelled in search of pawsteps or snapping branches to signal someone's approach, but found nothing. Perhaps it was drifting on the breeze from a greater distance than he thought, and he wouldn't run into them. The brute grunted, and continued his amble through the trees in search of useful plants. He wasn't expecting luck this late into the season, but what else was there to be done on a day like this? Not a cloud in the sky, and unseasonably warm. Anything of use would be drinking in the light and warmth, a perfect time to take clippings or uproot them entirely. Long banner flicked against his heels as he trudged forth, rich amethyst gaze scanning the terra for anything that might catch his eye. Oh, lamb's ear. That would come in handy, with his penchant for rubbing folks the wrong way. ""

Art by risketch

Content Warning: Depression and the depiction of a panic attack

Darya knew she needed to try and get herbs that couldn't be found so readily in the pack lands, and it normally took nearly a full 24 hours to work herself up to feeling up to leaving even just her den let alone so it had been practically an ordeal to work up the mental capacity to leave the pack lands to go hunting for herbs. And at first, it had almost been nice. Getting out, not being surrounded by all the sheep and her own now cluttered and frankly, kind of disgusting den. She was unkempt as usual but the newer scenery and fresh winter air helped to lift her mood. That was at least until she stumbled upon the galaxy man. For a moment she had thought it was Jupiter and her stomach had dropped... she didn't exactly know how to face him yet... or ever again really. But then it was worse, it was someone new. The usual rush of panic went through her, but she hadn't felt much lately and the sudden rush of emotion was more than she could handle and Darya suddenly found herself on the ground, her limbs dropping out from under her as she struggled to breathe. Her heart felt like it was beating the hardest it ever had in her life and her stomach was twisting up violently. She was suddenly certain she was dying. "Говорить"

Art by Hagon

I need to numb my blood 'til I'm okay While he resumed his foraging, the scent of another grew ever stronger, confirming his fear that he was not alone amongst the trees. With it came the steady, rhythmic thud of paws on the ground. He sighed, mostly to himself, and opted to ignore the commotion. After all, if they didn't stumble across him, he wouldn't have to deal with them. The sound of paws grew closer, and the volume of the rustling told him to expect a wolf equal to himself in bulk. Rich magenta gaze flicked up, cranium rising to lay his attention on the wolf who was certainly almost upon him at this point. It was a female, he noticed once he opted to put any thought into considering the scent. Then, a truly titanic form broke through the foliage, and he was captured by the stark ebony mask upon her face, with its sharp teeth-like extensions. Her hellfire gaze fell upon him for a mere few beats before they seemed to roll back into her skull. The unsettling sound of unawares limbs crumpling to the earth, and the subsequent thud of a massive body collapsing with them in a heap sent his auds flattening against his skull in alarm. Dark lips pulled into a thin line, features scrunching up in a grimace of concern and pain. Her ragged gasping was something wholly unexpected, and simultaneously confusing. For one of the few times in his life, the cosmic giant was struck dumb by a medical emergency. Clearly he was losing his touch. Wary footfalls thumped against the ground as alabaster paws brought him closer to the crumpled heap of wolf, a pile of matted, greasy dove grey fur. A few cautious pulls of air drew in her scent, and he noted the vague scent of illness underlying the reek of damp straw and herbivore dung. What in the gods' names was this woman doing in her spare time? He wasn't sure he wanted to know. It wasn't the sour, acrid stink of a serious illness that he would be at risk of contracting. Nonetheless it was something he had to be aware of, and consider throughout his examination. Brilliant optics narrowed as he took a moment to consider her scrunched up, distressed expression. "Aye, girl, don't try to take my head off for a second, would you?" he grunted slightly above his normal volume, a fair enough warning for his books. She was very much his patient now, and he wasn't accepting refusal or backtalk. Never one for excellent bedside manner, the man sought to bury his snout into the fur along her throat. The sensitive skin of his nose would be able to detect her pulse, and any blockages along her airways, if that wheezing was a result of something lodged there. He had to be careful and move slowly, as the large, curving tusks protruding from his lower jaw could punch through the tender skin of her throat if he moved too quick. Should she flinch, and he was moving too quickly, he wouldn't be able to pull back to avoid causing further injury. All he needed was to get his nose lightly up against the skin, and take a brief note of her pulse, then note any distinct shapes under the skin that might allude to blockages. Then, he would be much better off using an upturned paw to test against any blockage with his pawpad. Less risk of slicing a neck open, or losing an eye if she opted to take a chunk out of whatever touched her. ""

Art by risketch